Hylastes ater

Scientific profile

This species belongs to the genus Hylastes within the family Curculionidae. The body is compact, with a length of 4.4 mm, a width of 1.4 mm and a height of 1.3 mm, giving a roundness index of 0.96. The head measures 0.8 mm wide and 0.8 mm long, and the antennae are 0.9 mm long. The mandibles are 0.35 mm long with an aspect ratio of 0.67. The pronotum is 1.2 mm wide and 1.4 mm long, and the elytra are 0.7 mm wide and 2.6 mm long. The legs are typical for a weevil, with the hind femora reaching 0.9 mm in length and 0.3 mm in width. Wing morphology includes a length of 5.5 mm, a width of 1.7 mm, an area of 7.7 mm², yielding a wing load of 0.33 and an aspect ratio of 3.12, indicating relatively long, narrow wings. The eyes are small, with an area of 0.063 mm² and a length of 0.37 mm. Hairiness measurements vary across the body: the head dorsum is most hairy (18.9), while the pronotum dorsum is least (8.3); the abdomen ventrum is noticeably hairy (21.6). Total hairiness is 14.7. Colour lightness is 119.0. No size difference between sexes is apparent (sexual dimorphism score 0.0).